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Subject: High Holidays


Hebrew-English American Yom Kippur Mahzor (1890):  A Rare Prayer Book Hebrew-English American Yom Kippur Mahzor (1890): A Rare Prayer Book

This is a Hebrew-English American Yom Kippur Mahzor published around 1890 by Sarasohn & Son, located at 185 East Broadway. The book is noted for its modification of the prayer for government officials to reflect an American context. The Rosh Hashanah volume is considered extremely rare, with few known copies in existence.

High Holly Days Ticket, Congregation Shari Eli, 1977 High Holly Days Ticket, Congregation Shari Eli, 1977

Ticket to High Holiday services at Congregation Shari Eli in 1977. The ticket misspells "High Holidays" as "High Holly Days." The ticket is from the congregation's location at Eighth and Porter Streets. Congregation Shari Eli, founded in 1916, is described as a struggling Young People's Congregation located at 728 W. Moyamensing Ave. in South Philadelphia. It originated as the orthodox congregation Shari Torah. In 1948, a group of younger members from the former orthodox synagogue Shari Eli at Eighth and Porter Streets bought the building and established South Philadelphia's first conservative synagogue. The English translation of Shari Eli is "Gate of God."

Letter from Esther Levy to Isaac Leeser Requesting a Prayer Book Letter from Esther Levy to Isaac Leeser Requesting a Prayer Book

A one-page letter dated February 24, 1863, from Esther Levy, Matron of the Jewish Foster Home in Philadelphia, to Isaac Leeser. Levy requests the loan of a prayer book for the High Holidays. The letter's return address is the Jewish Foster Home Society of Philadelphia, located at 1431 North 15th Street. The letter is undated, but internal evidence suggests a date between 1860 and 1863.

Man and Humanity: Three Sermons Man and Humanity: Three Sermons

This book contains three sermons by Rabbi Isaac S. Moses: "The True Self," "Man and Humanity," and "Right Opportunities." Published in Milwaukee in 1886 by Congregation Emanu-El, this first edition is printed in English with the second sermon also appearing in German. The sermons explore themes of self-discovery, humanity's potential, and the importance of seizing opportunities. Rabbi Moses, a prominent Reform rabbi, served congregations in Quincy, Illinois; Milwaukee; and Chicago before leading Central Synagogue in New York. He was a founding member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and played a significant role in developing Reform Jewish liturgy.

Ordnung der Gebete beim Gottesdienst der Gemeinde Shaare Rachmim für [Jom Kippur] und [Rosch Haschana] Ordnung der Gebete beim Gottesdienst der Gemeinde Shaare Rachmim für [Jom Kippur] und [Rosch Haschana]

A first edition book published in New York in 1873 by the Druckerei des jüdischen Waisenhauses. The book contains prayers for Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashana in German and Hebrew. It features manuscript Hebrew addenda on the final two pages. The original rust-colored wrappers are still present. The book measures 8vo and contains 14 pages. According to the donor, this may be a unique surviving copy, as it could not be located in various databases such as Singerman, Goldman, OCLC, and EJ.